PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla — Pinellas County deputies have recovered the body of a Seminole man that fell into the water.
Deputies said around 2:17 p.m. on March 18 they responded to Lake Seminole to help a disabled vessel that was taking on water with two people on board. Seminole Fire Rescue was able to safely bring Shawn Thomas, 39, and Alexandra Dumervil, 37, to shore without incident.
Later the same day around 5:42 p.m deputies returned to the Lake Seminole area after multiple calls came in of a man going underwater after a boat capsized.
Detectives said once Thomas was brought ashore earlier in the day, he called a friend, A 74-year-old man, to help him recover his boat from the water. The friend used his boat to help Thomas get his boat. However once Thomas was on board his boat, the boat capsized and he was seen slipping into the water.
The friend attempted to rescue Thomas out of the water but was unable to bring him on board the boat. Thomas then went under the water. Thomas was a prominent local pastor in St. Petersburg.
At 9:47 p.m. deputies found Thomas' body 10 yards from where he was last seen. Drugs or alcohol were not factors in the incident and Thomas was not wearing a life vest.
